Regions of New Caledonia

Settled by both Britain and France during the first half of the 19th century, the island was made a French possession in 1853. It served as a penal colony for four decades after 1864. Agitation for independence during the 1980s and early 1990s ended in the 1998 Noumea Accord, which over a period of 15 to 20 years will transfer an increasing amount of governing responsibility from France to New Caledonia. The agreement also commits France to conduct as many as three referenda between 2013 and 2018, to decide whether New Caledonia should assume full sovereignty and independence.

Country Profile for New Caledonia

New Caledonia has about 25% of the world's known nickel resources. Only a small amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 20% of imports. In addition to nickel, substantial financial support from France - equal to more than one-fourth of GDP - and tourism are keys to the health of the economy. Substantial new investment in the nickel industry, combined with the recovery of global nickel prices, brightens the economic outlook for the next several years.

Natural hazards in New Caledonia include cyclones, most frequent from November to March.

Travel Advice for New Caledonia

New Caledonia

This advice has been reviewed and reissued. The overall level of the advice has not changed.

SUMMARY

New Caledonia is a French Overseas Territory. There is no formal British diplomatic consular representation. The General section of this Travel Advice gives you more information.

The threat from terrorism is low. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.

Although the risk from crime is also low, it does exist and you should take normal common-sense precautions.

Around 300 British nationals visit New Caledonia each year. Most visits are trouble free. The main type of incident for which British visitors require consular assistance concern cases of illness.

Tropical cyclones may occur in New Caledonia between mid-December and mid-March. See the Natural Disasters section of this advice and Hurricanes for more information.

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling to New Caledonia. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. Please see: Travel Insurance.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

NATURAL DISASTERS

Tropical cyclones may occur in New Caledonia between mid-December and mid-March. Local weather updates are available from the New Caledonia Meteorological Department at: http://www.meteo.nc and regional and international weather updates at: http://www.supertyphoon.com/ or at: http://www.hurricanezone.net/south-pacific-cyclones/advisories-bulletins.html. Please also see Hurricanes for more detailed information and advice should you be involved in a cyclonic situation.

GENERAL

If things go wrong when overseas, please see: What We Can Do To Help.

There is no resident British Diplomatic Mission in New Caledonia. Routine consular matters are covered by the British Embassy in Paris.